Tonga's Solicitor General says he was assured by the Transport Minister his concerns regarding finance and seaworthiness of the Princess Ashika had been addressed.
The ship sank in August, killing 74 people.
Asipeli' Aminiasi Kefu who was a member of the procurements committee confirmed to the Commission of Inquiry that the purchase contract for the vessel contained an 'as is where is, walk in walk out' clause absolving the seller from any liability.
Jenny Meyer reports
"The contract to buy the ill-fated Princess Ashika ferry was not conditional on finance, inspection, or survey certificates. Under cross examination the Solicitor General Mr Kefu agreed the government had signed an unconditional contract to buy the ship for just over 300,000 US dollars regardless of its condition on the basis the vessel had been fully inspected. Mr Kefu told the Commission in his experience government buying policies were not always followed in practise by ministry officials. He says this is a problem with compliance rather than not understanding the procedures. Mr Kefu says he had no place to question the Minister of Transport or to ask him to justify what he said. The Commission will end proceedings this week and resume its work on January the 12th."
